Elevation Church finds a home in Shoppes at the Village

Ryan Kibbe is pastor of Elevation Church, which moved to Shoppes at the Village in Ashwaubenon. It is in the building formerly occupied by Cook's Corner.(Photo: Richard Ryman/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)Buy Photo

ASHWAUBENON – Ryan Kibbe, pastor of Elevation Church, is pleased with his church's new home, not least because it's next door to David's Bridal in Shoppes at the Village shopping center.

"How great is that, a church next to a bridal store?" he said Wednesday during a break from delivering cheesecakes to his new neighbors.

Churches have increasingly found homes in declining malls and blighted shopping centers, but Shoppes at the Village, 2605 S. Oneida St., is a health concern, though the 18,000 square feet that was the Cook's Corner store was a large space to fill. Cook's Corner closed last year.

It was a perfect space for the church, providing room for an auditorium, offices, youth rooms, meeting rooms and a coffee bar.

The first service there was Sunday, something of a scramble because the church got its occupancy permit only on Friday.

"They moved heaven and earth to get this facility ready to go by Sunday morning," Kibbe said of church members. More than 300 people attended the non-denominational church's first service in its new location.

Elevation Church had been looking for a permanent home after holding worship at The Meadows Conference Center in east Green Bay and, more recently, at Bay Port High School during the last five years.

"Nothing seemed to work or fit," Kibbe said of their search. "It was an opportunity Jeff brought to us."

Jeff is Jeff Noeldner, CEO of Midwest Expansion, which owns Shoppes at the Village, as well as Urban Edge in Suamico.

"I love the idea that we are in the business hub," Kibbe said. "It's cool to be around these businesses. I have a friend in Milwaukee who has a church in a shopping center. They've found it's been beneficial. It seems to have some impact."

Elevation's staff includes Kibbe as lead pastor and five others in pastoral and administrative roles, as well as volunteer pastors.

Services are at 10 a.m. Sundays until Easter, April 1, when they will be at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. going forward.